POTATO BREEDING AT OAK PARK

Transcription

1 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 POTATO BREEDING AT OAK PARK Authors L. J. Dowley and D. Griffin Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow Teagasc acknowledges with gratitude the help of Irish Potato Marketing Ltd. in the financing of this research project and in the promotion of the new varieties. ISBN? June 2007 Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow

2 COES SUMMARY.1 IRODUCTION...1 METHODS..2 BREEDING PROPAGATION OF VIRUS TESTED STOCKS DISEASE RESISTANCE SCREENING RESULTS....4 BREEDING PROPAGATION OF VIRUS TESTED STOCKS...5 DISEASE RESISTANCE SCREENING DISCUSSION. 6 CONCLUSIONS.,.6 REFERENCES.7 VARIETY DISCRIPTIONS.....9

3 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 SUMMARY The Potato Breeding Project at Oak Park Research Centre with associated variety evaluation, seed production and disease resistance testing programmes has been in progress since the 1960's. A total of 33 varieties have been named. Some of these varieties are very successful in a range of countries while others are no longer commercially grown. During the 6 years of the current project (RMIS NO 4270) a total of 8 new potato varieties have been named and released. These include Camelot, Carnaval, Galactica, Kikko, Habibi, Nectar, Savanna and Setanta. These varieties have all been granted Irish and EU Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and have been included on the Irish National List and the European Common Catalogue. As these varieties are relatively new to the market, their full commercial potential is still to be established. A full description of each variety, including agronomic characteristics and disease resistance is included in pages IRODUCTION The potato breeding programme at Oak Park was started in the 1960's and has consisted of a number of distinct phases. In the first phase the focus was on the evaluation of the main domestic and foreign varieties for suitability for the Irish market. This was followed by a breeding programme for the domestic market, with particular emphasis on the production of a blight resistant replacement for Kerr s Pink. The emphasis then switched to breeding for the export market, with the focus on the UK and Mediterranean markets. Since then the breeding programme has been focused on both the domestic, processing and export markets. The process of breeding, testing and multiplying a new potato variety from the making of the initial cross until the new variety can be commercially grown takes about 15 years (see Appendix 1). This report covers the period (RMIS NO 4720). The objectives of the present Potato Breeding Programme are: 1. Breeding improved varieties for the seed export trade. 2. Developing high yielding early maincrop and maincrop varieties with resistance to potato cyst eelworm Globodera rostochiensis and or Globodera pallida with quality suitable for the UK market. 1

4 3. Developing a superior quality, red skinned, white fleshed, early maincrop or maincrop variety suitable for the home ware trade with a high level of disease resistance, especially to blight. 4. To select early maincrop and maincrop varieties suitable for the general processing market. 5. Breeding first and second early varieties suitable for Irish and UK conditions with improved quality and disease resistance. METHODS The potato breeding project currently undertaken at Oak Park largely consists of three complimentary programmes. The main programme consists of breeding improved potato varieties for the processing, domestic and seed export markets. Two complementary programmes involve the production of virus tested seed stocks of new potato seedlings and the assessment of their disease resistance. Breeding The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an autotetraploid with four sets of homologous chromosomes (n=12). The species contains a high level of genetic variation and hybrids will retain their heterozygous nature due to vegetative propagation. Conventional breeding programmes depend on the production of variation through sexual hybridisation and the subsequent selection of the best recombinant clones for further evaluation and vegetative propagation. Biotechnological techniques such as marker aided selection (MAS) are being gradually introduced to increase selection efficiency. Year 1 entails the crossing of selected parental material to obtain true seed which should contain the desired commercial characteristics. In year 2, 100,000 seedlings are raised from true seed in pots. Around 80% of these are selected and grown as single plants the following year in the isolation centre in the Wicklow mountains (Year 3). They are selected severely on appearance, shape, tuber numbers, freedom from defects and potential yield in this first field year. Ten tubers are kept of each seedling selected and these are again grown in the isolation centre the following year (Year 4). The seedlings are assessed at this stage on foliage cover, maturity, tuber size, evenness, appearance, defects and potential yield. Forty seed tubers are retained for further multiplication in the isolation centre in the Wicklow mountains, while the remaining tubers are used for commercial evaluation as replicated 20 tuber lots in the Carlow area the following year (Year 5). By this time, the original 90,000 will have been reduced to some seedlings on which more detailed evaluation with respect to yield, eating quality, dry matter content, crisp and chip colour, grading etc. is carried out. 2

5 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 Seedlings considered to be early maturing are evaluated the following year in an early potato growing area at Broadway, Co. Wexford. The remainder of the seedlings selected from year 5 are included in general evaluation trials near Carlow (Year 6) and assessed on all characters of commercial importance and for their possible market potential. Seedlings are selected at the end of year 6 for continued evaluation in Ireland and initial evaluation for markets abroad. In the past, varieties were tested at a range of foreign trial sites on the basis of their suitability for that market. Currently, all year 6 seedlings are tested as single replicate observation plots in Morocco and north Spain. All advanced seedlings from year 7 onwards are tested in replicated trials in Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands. The evaluation process continues from year 7 onwards with seedlings being evaluated in trials in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Mediterranean regions. In year 10, seedlings considered to have a potential in one or more countries are entered for Irish National List Trials and Plant Breeders Rights. Following the granting of Irish National Listing and Plant breeders rights in Ireland, documentation on each variety is submitted to the EU requesting EU Plant Breeders Rights and entry onto the European Common Catalogue. Propagation of Virus Tested Stocks The objective of this programme is to ensure that an adequate quantity of virus tested seed is available for multiplication under the Seed Certification Scheme when a new potato variety is recommended for release. It is also designed to produce high quality seed for the commercial evaluation of seedlings at home and abroad. Samples of all clones are tested for virus infection using the ELISA technique (Baker, et al., 1993). All advanced clones are also tested for the presence of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) using the nucleic spot hybridisation test and for ring-rot using the immuno-flourescent technique. All infected clones are discarded prior to planting in the field. The field multiplication of virus-tested stocks of new potato seedlings is conducted at the isolation centre in Co. Wicklow which is free from potato cyst nematode. This covers an area of approximately 10 ha and is made up of plots varying in size from single-plant plots to 1,500-plant plots. All plants from year 4 onwards are sampled and tested serologically for PVX, PVS, PVA, PVM, PVY and PLRV using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Visual inspections are carried out at weekly intervals and the health status is confirmed by the inspection service of the Department of Agriculture and Food. 3

6 Seed of selected seedlings are sent for breeders trials to different countries while the remainder is used for further propagation, disease resistance screening and domestic trials. In year 8, meristem-tip cultures of all advanced seedlings are handed over to the Department of Agriculture and Food to provide the initial propagation material for mini-tuber production and future multiplication under the Irish and Scottish Seed Certification Schemes. This seed is exclusively used by the Teagasc agent, Irish Potato Marketing Ltd. for commercial assessment at home and abroad. Disease Resistance Screening Disease resistance is an important objective of the potato breeding programme and all advanced seedlings are tested for resistance to a wide range of commonly occurring diseases. Using standard laboratory and field techniques (Dorrance & Englis, 1997; Dowley, 1969; Dowley, 1972a; Dowley, 1972b; Dowley, et al., 1991; Dowley, et al., 1999; Langton, 1971; Malcolmson, 1976; Platt & McRae, 1990; Stewart et al., 1983 and Wastie & Bradshaw, 1995), seedlings are tested for resistance to wart disease (Synchytrium endobioticum), foliage and tuber blight (Phytophthora infestans), common scab (Streptomyces scabies), dry-rot (Fusarium caeruleum), gangrene (Phoma exigua var foveata), Rhizoctonia (Rhizoctonia solani), powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea), black leg (Erwinia caratovora var atroseptica) and potato virus X (PVX), virus Y (PVY) and potato leaf roll virus (PLRV). Testing commences when seedlings have reached their seventh year of commercial evaluation and continues until a seedling is discarded or released as a new cultivar. RESULTS Breeding During the 6 years of the current project (RMIS NO 4270) a total of 8 new potato varieties have been named and released. These include Camelot, Carnaval, Galactica, Kikko, Habibi, Nectar, Savanna and Setanta. These varieties have all been granted Irish and EU Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and have been included on the Irish National List and the European Common Catalogue. Camelot: This is a parti-coloured, early maincrop variety for the UK and Mediterranean markets. Carnaval: This is a deep red, late maincrop variety for the Middle East and Mediterranean markets. Galactica: This is a parti-coloured, early variety for the UK and Mediterranean markets. 4

7 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 Kikko: This is a creamy yellow, late maincrop variety for the Mediterranean market. Habibi: This is a parti-coloured, late maincrop variety for the UK and Mediterranean markets. Nectar: This is a creamy yellow (with slight red eye), early maincrop variety for pre-pack and punnet market. Savana: This is a creamy yellow, maincrop variety for the Mediterranean pre-pack market. Setanta: This is a deep red, late maincrop variety with high blight resistance and good eating quality for the Irish and UK organic markets. As these varieties are relatively new to the market, their full commercial potential is still to be established. A full description of each variety, including agronomic characteristics and disease resistance is included in pages Propagation of virus tested Stocks Problems with PLRV, PVX, PVA, PVM and PVS have been virtually eliminated from the isolation centre in Wicklow. Problems still exist with the new strain of potato virus Y (PVY N ). However, adequate quantities of virus tested stocks have always been available to supply all requirements.. 25,000-30,000 tons of Teagasc bred varieties were sold as certified seed in each of the last six years. This seed was grown in Ireland and Scotland and exported to England, Cyprus, Canary Islands, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Portugal and the Azores as well as Ireland. Disease Resistance Screening Many of the new varieties were found to possess high levels of disease resistance and could make a significant contribution to reducing disease losses in potato production. Most seedlings exhibit good resistance to common scab, black scurf, foliage blight, tuber blight and gangrene. However, resistance tests for black leg, black dot and silver scurf should be included in future breeding programmes. DISCUSSION Since the early sixties the area under potatoes has declined dramatically but output has remained relatively stable due to consistently increasing yields and improved storage facilities. 5

8 The Oak Park varieties, particularly Cara, have contributed significantly to maintaining an Irish seed potato industry while Rooster has been the mainstay of the Irish ware industry. Without the very positive influence of the Oak Park varieties there would be a much reduced Irish seed industry and little or no seed export trade from Ireland. To develop the seed export trade it will be necessary to continue the flow of superior varieties from the potato breeding programme. While the full commercial impact of the eight new varieties is yet to be fully established, it is expected that they will have a positive impact on the seed export trade. The potato breeding programme at Oak Park has now been in operation for 45 years. During this period it has been extremely productive with 33 varieties being placed on the National List. If one allows for a lead in period of 15 years, this represents more than one new variety being registered each year since the midseventies when Cara was first commercialised. This has been achieved with the financial and marketing assistance of our agents, Irish Potato Marketing, without whose help this programme would not have been viable. The future success of the programme will require the continued support of a commercial partner such as Irish Potato Marketing who can accurately identify future market requirements at home and abroad and aggressively promote new Teagasc varieties on these markets. New markets, outside the traditional export areas will need to be developed if the seed export trade is to be expanded from its present base. The future breeding programme will also need to incorporate new technologies, particularly genetic engineering which will allow the more rapid modification of germplasm to suit individual requirements. There is also a need to develop selection systems which will quickly and more economically identify the most desirable genotypes. A further requirement is to increase the level of mechanisation and to reduce labour inputs at a time of increasing labour shortage. These changes would insure that the breeding programme is on a proper footing to face the challenges of the new millennium. CONCLUSIONS Eight new varieties have been produced for the domestic, processing and seed export trades Most varieties show high levels of disease resistance which will reduce production losses A number of the new varieties show excellent promise for the export trade 6

9 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 REFERENCES Barker, H., K. D. Webster & B. Reavy Detection of potato virus Y in potato tubers: a comparison of polumerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assey. Potato Res. 36:13-20 Dorrance, A. E. and Inglis, D. A Assessment of greenhouse and laboratry screening methods for evaluating potato foliage for resistance to late blight. Plant Disease 81: Dowley, L. J Varietal susceptibility of potatoes to common scab (Streptomyces scabies) in Ireland. Ir. J. Agr. Res. 8: Dowley, L. J. 1972a. Reliability of methods of assessing the degree of tuber attack by common scab of potatoes. Potato Research 15: Dowley, L. J. 1972b. Varietal susceptibility of potato tubers to Rhizoctonia solani in Ireland. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 11: Dowley, L. J., E. O`Sullivan and H. W. Kehoe Development and evaluation of blight resistant cultivars. In: Phytophthora, J. A. Lucas, R. C. Shattock, D. S. Shaw and L. R Cooke (Eds), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp Dowley, L. J., Carnegie, S. F., Baldras-Chatot, C., Elliss che, D., Gans, P., Sch ber-butin, B. and Woustman, R Guidelines for evaluating disease resistance in potato cultivars. Foliage blight resistance (field test) Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. Potato Research 42: Langton, F. A The effects of temperature on the development of gangrene following laboratory inoculation of potato tubers with Phoma exigua var foveata. Physiol. Pl. Path. 1: Malcolmson, J. F Assessment of field resistance to blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potatoes. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 67: Platt, H. W. and K. B. McRae Assessment of field responses of potato cultivars and breeder seedlings to potato late blight epidemics. Amercan Potato Journal 67: Stewart, H. E., Flavelle, P. H., McCalmont, D. E. and Wastie, R. L Correlation between glasshouse and field tests for resistance to foliage blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. Potato Research 26:41-48 Wastie, R. L. and J. E. Bradshaw Comparison of resistance to Fusarium spp. of glasshouse and field grown tuber progenies of potato. Potato Research 38:

10 A complete description for each of the 8 varieties is given in alphabetical order in pages The 1-9 figure quoted for most traits is the best information available at the date of printing. However, these figures are subject to change over time as the data bank on each variety increases. KEY TO VARIETY DECSCRIPTORS 1 = Lowest expression of character (i.e. lowest disease resistance) 9 = Highest expression of character (i.e. highest disease resistance) RG1 = Immune to European race 1 of wart disease RG2 = Field immune to European race 1 of wart disease I = Immune R O 1 = Resistant to race 1 of Globodera rostochiensis S = Susceptible = Not tested 8

11 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 CAMELOT BREEDER: Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland PAREAGE: Malin x Picasso (T1583/73) AGE: Irish Potato Marketing IRISH NL: 21/01/2003 IRISH PBR: Grant No. 379, 01/04/2003 UK PBR: No application made EU COM. CAT. 08/05/2003 EU PBR: File No. EU13124, 19/04/2004 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Market Appearance UK & Mediterranean TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Shallowness of eyes Flesh Colour Oval long oval Creamy yellow + red eye & splash 8 White CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Freedom from Crisp Colour Overall Eating Content discolouration DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart Common Powdery Black Black Stem Foliage Scab Scab leg Scurf Canker Blight RG Tuber Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm Blight R 0 1 9

12 CAMELOT TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 10

13 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 CARNAVAL BREEDER: Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland PAREAGE: Bartina x Picasso (T958/7) AGE: Irish Potato Marketing IRISH NL: 18/07/2005 IRISH PBR: Grant No. 391, 14/07/2005 UK PBR: No application made EU COM. CAT. 04/12/06 EU PBR: File No. EU GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Market Appearance Middle East & Mediterranean TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Shallowness of eyes Flesh Colour 8 7 Oval long oval Deep red 8 Light yellow CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Freedom from Crisp Colour Overall Eating Content discolouration DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart Common Powdery Black Black Stem Foliage Scab Scab leg Scurf Canker Blight RG Tuber Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm Blight R

14 CARNAVAL TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF STEM 12

15 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 GALACTICA BREEDER: Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland PAREAGE: Torridon x Picasso (T1399/17) AGE: Irish Potato Marketing IRISH NL: 28/01/2003 (as Cristina) IRISH PBR: Grant No. 378, 11/11/2004 UK PBR: No application made EU COM. CAT. 28/02/2006 EU PBR: File No. EU13892, 13/09/2004 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Market Appearance UK & Mediterranean TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Shallowness of eyes Oval long oval 13 Creamy yellow + red eye & splash CONSUMER QUALITY Flesh Colour 8 Light yellow Dry Matter Freedom from Crisp Colour Overall Eating Content discolouration DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart Common Powdery Black Black Stem Foliage Scab Scab leg Scurf Canker Blight S Tuber Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm Blight R 0 1

16 GALACTICA TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 14

17 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 HABIBI BREEDER: Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland PAREAGE: Famosa x Cara (T1543a92) AGE: Irish Potato Marketing IRISH NL: 19/12/2003 IRISH PBR: Grant No. 389, 11/11/2004 UK PBR: No application made EU COM. CAT. 23/06/2006 EU PBR: File No. EU 16882, 13/2/2006 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Market Appearance UK & Mediterranean TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Shallowness of eyes Oval long oval 15 Creamy yellow + red eye & splash CONSUMER QUALITY Flesh Colour 8 Light yellow - yellow Dry Matter Freedom from Crisp Colour Overall Eating Content discolouration DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart Common Powdery Black Black Stem Foliage Scab Scab leg Scurf Canker Blight RG Tuber Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm Blight R 0 1

18 HABIBI TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 16

19 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 KIKKO Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland Slaney x C1992/42 (T1670/19) Irish Potato Marketing 19/12/ /01/2004 No application made 23/06/2006 File No. EU14421, 06/12/2004 BREEDER: PAREAGE: AGE: IRISH NL: IRISH PBR: UK PBR: EU COM. CAT. EU PBR: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Appearance 7.5 Market Mediterranean TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape 8 7 Oval-long oval Skin Colour Creamy yellow Shallowness of eyes 8 Flesh Colour Light yellow yellow CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Content 3 Freedom from discolouration 7.5 Crisp Colour Overall Eating DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart S Tuber Blight 4.8 Common Scab 5.9 Powdery Scab Black leg Black Scurf 9 Stem Canker Foliage Blight 7.7 Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm 5 2 S 17

20 KIKKO TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 18

21 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 NECTAR Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland Famosa x Red Cara (T1903/48) Irish Potato Marketing 18/07/2005 Grant No. 390, 14/07/2005 No application made 03/07/2006 File No. EU BREEDER: PAREAGE: AGE: IRISH NL: IRISH PBR: UK PBR: EU COM. CAT. EU PBR: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Appearance 8 Market Pre-pack & punnet TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Oval long oval Creamy yellow + faint red eye Shallowness of eyes 8.3 Flesh Colour Light yellow CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Content 4 Freedom from discolouration 8.4 Crisp Colour Overall Eating DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart RG1 Tuber Blight 8 Common Scab 6.2 Powdery Scab Black leg Black Scurf 4 Stem Canker Foliage Blight 4.5 Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm 7 2 S 19

22 NECTAR TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 20

23 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 SAVANNA Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland Famosa x Atlantic (T1544/6) Irish Potato Marketing 22/12/2005 Grant No. 393, 14/02/2006 No application made 23/06/2006 File No EU 19305, 05/03/2007 BREEDER: PAREAGE: AGE: IRISH NL: IRISH PBR: UK PBR: EU COM. CAT. EU PBR: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield 5 7 Tuber Appearance 8 Market Mediterranean pre-pack TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Round Skin Colour Creamy yellow Shallowness of eyes 8 Flesh Colour White CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Content 6 Freedom from discolouration 6.5 Crisp Colour Overall Eating DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart RG2 Tuber Blight 8 Common Scab 7.7 Powdery Scab Black leg Black Scurf 7 Stem Canker Foliage Blight 4.7 Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm 1.3 S 21

24 SAVANNA TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 22

25 End of Project Report RMIS NO 4720 SETAA Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland Brodick x Rooster (T1823/10) Irish Potato Marketing 19/12/2003 Grant No. 387, 01/04/2004 No application made 23/06/2006 File No. EU14420, 06/12/2004 BREEDER: PAREAGE: AGE: IRISH NL: IRISH PBR: UK PBR: EU COM. CAT. EU PBR: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Earliness Yield Tuber Appearance 6.5 Market Irish and UK organic & processing markets TUBER CHARACTERISTICS Size Number Shape Skin Colour Short oval Deep red slightly russet Shallowne ss of eyes 8 Flesh Colour Yellow CONSUMER QUALITY Dry Matter Content 8 Freedom from discolouration 8.8 Crisp Colour Overall Eating DISEASE RESISTANCE Wart RG1 Tuber Blight 7.8 Common Scab 7 Powdery Scab Black leg Black Scurf 7.5 Stem Canker Foliage Blight 8.3 Gangrene Dry Rot PVX PVY PLRV Eelworm S 23

26 SETAA TUBER SPROUT FLOWER LEAF/STEM 24

27 End of Project Report RMIS NO